River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1887-09-29

moist soil, and should be mulehed
heavily so as to keep the soil moist
and cool. On light land thus mulched
| gooseberries can be grown, provided
the plants are not too much
thinned. If the bushes grow in clumps
one protects tho other from the sun,
and the soil beneath them does not dry
out so soon. Probably a dressing of
salt to attract moisture will be benefic-
ial.
STIRRING THE SOIL.
There is something more in stirring
the soil than keeping down grass and
weeds. Not blade of grass should be
allowed to grow out of place, it is true,
nor should weeds be given the slightest
chance; but while the loosening of the
soil assists in destroying such intruders,
vet the real benefits are derived from
the air and heat aud rains. When the
soil bee ONES hard and compact the air
and heat cannot ente T. and when a
shower falls, unless it lasts long enough
to completely soften the upper crust,
the water required by the plants runs
of and no benefit is gained. By keep
ing the earth loose the heat goes down
and surplus water evaporates. Should
a shower fall the water soaks in, and
a large quantity is secured compared
with soil that is compact. The air is
the great agent that causes the chemic-
al decomposition of soils, and it dis
integrates and renders soluble the
plant food III the air cannot enter the
| soil the substances that should be APP
propriated by plants remain inert, and
but slowly perform the work that should
| be done quickly. There is another
point which is overlooked. The roots
Of the plants have a large feeding sur
face when the earth is loose. Ii it is
compact and the roots are compelled
TO push through the soil slowly and
with effort, it is loss of so much
energy that is in the one sense wasted;
| for the physical force expended in one
direction is lost, instead of being applied
where the greatest benefit might have
been obtained. In stirring the soil,
therefore, many advantages are secur-
ed-the roots have greater feeding ca
pacity, larger amount of moisture is
secured. the air penetrates deeper and
the heat is more readily converted into
force. Keep the soil loose at all times,
and cultivate always after each rain.
LEAVING MANURE IN HEAPS.
The easiest and quickest way to draw
manure is to dump it in heaps, especial
ly if loaded upon a loose box with NOV
able side boards. But when these adj
vantages are conceded nothing more
remains to be said in favor of this prac-
tice. 1t is not true, as used to be sup
posed, that manure wastes materially
when spread upon the surface of the
soil. In fact, this is the best method of
preventing waste. There is less fermen-
tation i'm manure when it is spread on
the surface of the ground than there
could be in any other position. No
smell of ammonia escapes from it. II
rains come while manure is spread they
only wash its soluble plant food into
the soil when it is needed. If manure
is piled in heaps it can scarcely ever be
evenly distributed afterward. Under
the heap will be a rich place from the
drainage of the manure water into the
soil, even though every solid particle of
manure has been removed.
WHICH HENS TO SELL.
Keep the most active hens as your
layers, and sell those that are very fat
and heavy, and which show signs of
breaking down. Keep the hens with
the smallest combs, and which begin
to molt early. If any hens have been
Improbable do not keep them for their
beauty, as beauty has but small |
place so far as profits are concerned. |
Hens that have been frequently sick |
should be sold, but do not sell them
unless they are healthy at the time.
The main point to observe is activity,
as an active, foraging hen is almost al |
ways a good egg-producer, and pro-
vides partly for herself when she can |
get chance to dose.
ENsILAGE.
lin my opinion says Professor
w ultutTs 'NllO VIII nus nNC vi |
more head of cattle can afford to let |
another year 90 by without the addition !.
of silo, and | am convinced that fully |
two-thirds of these same farmers would |
be obliged to put their ensilage in |
whole, if at all, and it is in no way a |
serious hinderance to the success of the |
system. The corn will keep better |
whole, it will cost less to secure it, will |
pack in as small a space per ton; on the |
other hand, more will be wasted by the |
stock, it is harder to get out of the |
silo, and leaves coarse stalks in the |
manure"
TO EXPEL MOSQUITOES.
Camphor is recommended as valu-
able for the expulsion of mosquitoes
from house. IL is used as follows: |
Take of gum-camphor piece about one
third the size of hens egg, and eyap-
crate it by placing 1t IN a tin vessel and
holding it overa lamp taking care that
it does not ignite. The smoke will
soon fill the room and expel the mos
quitoes. and not one will be found in
Iilt IOOli LilC ltAb illOl tNCii
the windows are left open all night.
NOTES.
Michigan has the largest peach crop
for many year.
Marble that is semi-transparent and
looks like glass is found at Mono, Cal.
1t is estimated that the discoveries,
inventions. and compounds patented
each year in the United and States never
amounting to anything cost $4,000, 900
An ordinary elephant produces 120
pounds of ivory, worth EGO. England
consumes ESQ (of which Sheffield one
third), for which it is necessary to kill
10000 elephants yearly.
The average COW is supposed to drink
about eight gallons of water in day.
Give your pigs plenty of grass and a
| dry bed, and hog cholera will nottroub-
lie you.
For green food to produce milk India
wheat, cut when in bloom, is among the
best.
Hoe potatoes as soon as they come up.
| There is no plant that will feel il quick